Productive MLB Winter Meetings this year saw major player movement earlier this season than last, with the top free agents finding new teams and World Series odds and futures moving accordingly. In October Houston Astros opened as favorites at +600, however, by the end of the winter meetings the current odds to win the 2020 MLB World Series has New York Yankees as the front-runner at +350.
The Yankees are followed by the National League Los Angeles Dodgers at +500, and the Houston Astros at +650. Rounding out the Top 5 are the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals both at +1400. The Boston Red Sox come in at +1600, the Cleveland Indians have been up and down and are currently at +1850, while the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs are all square at +2000.
Easy Favorites: The New York Yankees
In two words: Gerrit Cole. The Yankees outbid the field and managed to sign the coveted free agent pitcher to a nine-year, $324-million contract. Cole is coming off a career year in which he led the league in strikeouts (326) and innings (212.1), posted a career-low ERA (2.50) and finished second in the American League Cy Young voting.
Last season the Yankees struggled with injuries. In all, 25 Yankees players spent time on the injured list last season including outfielder Giancarlo Stanton who managed to play in only 18 regular-season games. Star catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielder Aaron Judge combined to miss 96 games and Miguel Andujar was lost for the season after just 47 AB’s.
The addition of Cole should help boost a pitching staff that was middle of the road last season yet posted third-best record in the majors (103-59) makes them the easy off-season pick to win the 2020 World Series.
National League Pick: The Los Angeles Dodgers
Even after back-to-back runner-up finishes in the World Series, and a stunning loss to the World Series champion Washington Nationals this past season in the National League Divisional Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers remain the top pick to advance out of the NL in 2020.
The Dodgers last missed the playoffs in 2012, have won 7 straight division titles, and have averaged almost 96 wins per season since. Even with the loss of Korean national Hyun-Jin Ryu, LA returns with perhaps the deepest roster in the major leagues and is almost a lock to repeat as division champs for a record 8th straight season.
2020 World Series Odds Tracker
12/20/19: Cleveland Indians see odds dip as Lindor trade with the Dodgers drags on.
12/11/19: Signing Gerrit Cole has vaulted the Yankees well ahead of the field.
12/05/19: The White Sox have been the biggest spenders in early free agency. Odds improve from +5000 to +4500.
11/20/19: Dodgers, Yankees, and Astros in a virtual tie as favorites.
11/17/19: The cheating scandal swirling around the Astros has led odds dropping from +500 to +600.
11/07/19: Nationals drop from +1200 to +1300, while the Dodgers hold their status as National League favorites, improving from +1000 to +700.
10/31/19: The Astros have opened as favorites at +600.
If you’re having trouble following these odds, Betting365 has a terrific Online Guide for live streaming and wagering on sports, including baseball, basketball, and football. They cover both betting exchanges and traditional sportsbooks from top bookmakers across the globe.
Top Value Picks By Scott Hastings at Odds Shark
There are two teams that are providing better value than the Yankees and could be playing against them in the Fall Classic. The first is the reigning champion Washington Nationals at +1400. The Nationals rotation is essentially still intact from last season, notably the front end of Max Scherzer, World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. However, two major players that won’t be with the club are Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon. Replacing Rendon will be Carter Kieboom, who you might remember hit a homer in his first at-bat last season against San Diego. Offensively, it should be Juan Soto’s team now and if he can rise to be more of a leader, this team could be dangerous.
The second intriguing team is the New York Mets (+2500), though they still have some work to do, perhaps by way of the trade market. Could we get a Subway Series for the World Series like in 2000 when the Yankees won the Fall Classic in five games over the Mets? In theory, the Mets should have a very strong rotation with back-to-back NL Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom leading the charge and Michael Wacha at the back end was a nice addition to the team. Additionally, the bullpen is nasty too with the likes of Brad Brach, and Jeurys Familia, Edwin Diaz, and the just signed Dellin Betances who pitched for the crosstown Yankees last season.
Offensively, rookie of the year first baseman Pete Alonso hammered 53 long balls with 120 RBIs last season. Look for him to have another big year and if the other bats around him can wake up, this team could be a sneaky contender.
